Induced Effects of Exogenous Phenolic Acids on Allelopathy of a Wild Rice Accession (Oryza longistaminata, S37)

Four exogenous phenolic acids, including salicylic acid, fumalic acid, p-coumaric acid and p-hydroxybenzonic acid, were used to investigate the regulatory effects on allelopathy of a wild rice accession of S37 (Oryza longistaminata), which is a known allelopathic rice. The four exogenous phenolic acids induced the enhancement of the allelopathic potential of wild rice S37 in target weeds though the weed-suppressive activities were low, and the inducible effects were dependent on the specific phenolic acid, concentration and treatment time. After foliar application of exogenous phenolic acids, the inhibition rates for plant height, root length and fresh weight of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) were significantly higher than those of the control. Especially at the concentration of 100 mg/L, the inhibition rates for plant height and fresh weight of barnyard grass by fumalic acid were 38.12% and 26.31% higher than those of the control, showing that fumalic acid was more effective compared with other phenolic acids in inhibiting monocotyledon weed growth. Furthermore, the weed-suppressive activity of aqueous extract from the leaves of wild rice S37 treated with exogenous phenolic acids was increased, and it peaked at 48 h after the treatment with the aqueous extract, and then gradually declined.